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Hello!

Hi! I'm Shabana. I live in Bahrain. I'm a businesswoman by day and a fitness instructor by night. I believe that dressing up is the easiest way of loving yourself, and this blog is where I journal my outfits and my life. If you'd like to know more, click on the About Me tab on top. I hope you enjoy my blog!

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She reaffirmed her faith in humanity. And mine.

May 30, 2014

to Read
(

Words)

Today's post is by Melinda
Schmitt. I met her on a blogging platform when I started my blogging journey three years ago and what she did blew me away. I won't say much more about her, she says it so well herself-

It’s been 2 years since I embarked on a year long journey that reaffirmed my
faith in humanity. On April 13, 2011 I started my
year of hugs. On this journey I hugged everyone I encountered from friends and
family, salesmen to garbagemen, nurses to firemen. It was my way of saying,
“Hey I acknowledge you and I appreciate you for being a part of my day.” What I
had hoped to accomplish was a deeper connection within my community. What I got
was so much more.

A few days in, I had dinner with
some girlfriends. A neighbor I had never been introduced to joined us. Perfect!
I greeted her with a hug. She held her arms down and clearly wasn't used to
that kind of behavior. Later that evening I wondered if I could even make a
difference. The very next day I received a note from one of my girlfriends.
Apparently the new friend I made talked more that night than she ever had.
Perhaps I would make a difference.

My favorite hugs were always a
little more emotional. I often didn’t even know why. They were the people that
teared up after the hug and let me know how much it was needed. Sometimes they
said nothing at all. I just knew. These were the times I walked away with tears
in my eyes. Other times it was something I overheard. After walking away from
hugging a female employee at the waste disposal site I heard her say to someone
next to her, “That was the first hug I have gotten in a long time.” My heart
just about burst. I was beside myself with happiness that I could be there for
her, but choked with sadness that she didn’t receive hugs regularly.

Every day I blogged about my
experience. This introduced me to an online community of like minded individuals.
They encouraged me, inspired me and motivated me to be braver, kinder, more
loving than I knew I could be. They helped me understand that personal contact
can also be achieved through very impersonal electronic devices. I was giving
and receiving hugs personally and virtually.

You are reading this because of a
few of those online hugs. Clear across the world I was able to connect with
Shabana and Anceeta. Our backgrounds, our cultures, our communities couldn’t be
any more different. Yet, we understood the need for human touch. For love. For
kindness. Together we understood that that made us the same. My story made it’s
way across the globe. I heard from people in India, Africa, Vietnam and so many
more countries. I have a much deeper understanding that we are one human race.

Just over two years ago I felt
lonely, isolated and out of touch with the world. The experiences I had during
my year of hugs moved me to tears, brought me endless joy and changed me to the
core. Today I give and receive love freely. I motivate and encourage others to
do the same. Now, not only am I a part of many tight knit communities, I know I
am an important part of the human community.

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[name=Shabana Feroze]
[img=https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg6SV98PZuI/WZVqixmSbyI/AAAAAAAAzS8/-Y24FbHuPfozAHBFDpi9P1XsTRqcHi-0ACLcBGAs/s320/Wider.jpg]
[description=Shabana Feroze is the owner of advertising agency The Silver Kick Company, and co-owner of Lace Love, a lace business that she started with her mother. She is a Les Mills fitness instructor, teaching BodyCombat and BodyBalance classes. She is also a published author with her first book Loving Yourself In Style. She enjoys dressing up, chasing her passions, traveling the world, staying fit and encouraging people to do the same. She lives in Bahrain with her family of humans and cats.]
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About Me

Hi there!

I'm Shabana. I live in Bahrain. I'm a businesswoman by day and a fitness instructor by night. I believe that dressing up is the easiest way of loving yourself, and this blog is where I journal my outfits and my life. If you'd like to know more, click on my photo or the 'Who I Am' tab on top. I hope you enjoy my blog!